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A year of tech events without tech events
Apple’s big press events and its Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) wield arguably even more influence on the world of tech.
2021 could be a great year for 'alternative' consoles
Despite the pandemic, it’s been a pretty great year for video game hardware. Microsoft launched the Xbox Series X and the smaller Series S. Sony, meanwhile, released the PlayStation 5 and a cheaper Digital Edition that doesn’t come with a disc drive.
2020 put us on the edge of a processor revolution
Intel put out another high-end chip, 10th-gen “Comet Lake”, which added a few cores but is still based on its aging 14nm transistor design, and AMD countered with Zen 3, an improved version of its desktop architecture that now goes up to 16 cores. While Zen 3 didn’t increase core counts or clock speeds dramatically, it did deliver a big boost in instructions per-clock without increasing power consumption.
A touchless 2020
In 2020, the technology industry pushed products geared towards minimizing, sanitizing or tracking physical touch. Which of these innovations will we keep?
How Twitch kept its crown in a controversial year
Its head may hang heavy, but Twitch is still the streaming king.
2020 was the year of the casual gamer
Casual players dominated the gaming discourse of 2020.
2020 has proven that electric vehicles are the future of transportation
2020 saw explosive growth in the automotive industry’s EV segment, with nearly every major manufacturer and brand group announcing, unveiling or debuting new and upcoming electric vehicles. Tesla managed to retain its position at the head of the market this year but its lead over rivals is shrinking as automotive stalwarts like GM, Fiat Chrysler, Hyundai Motor Group and the Volkswagen Group all jump into the EV fray. 2020 saw more than just new EV models, though: The battery technologies that power them and the transportation infrastructure that leverages them enjoyed some impressive advancements of their own.
Recommended Reading: The best long-form stories of 2020
Recommended Reading highlights the week's noteworthy writing on technology and more.
How to make the most of your new Apple Watch
Whether you’re a first-time smartwatch user or just new to watchOS, wearing an Apple Watch can feel like a big change in your daily life. From watch face tips to key reminders, this guide will walk you through how to make the most of your new Apple Watch. Turn on your Apple Watch, hold it near your iPhone and a panel will pop up to take you through basics like pairing, signing in with your Apple ID, creating a password and choosing what apps or features to enable.
Best games for safely socializing this holiday season
There are plenty of video games you can enjoy with friends and family without getting too close.
Accessibility in tech improved in 2020, but more must be done
Lee, 28, is a paraplegic who uses walking aids to get around, and being able to rely on video calls greatly reduced the challenges involved in getting to school. When he’s making his way to classes, it’s impossible for Lee to walk and text while gripping onto his crutches, and if he doesn’t have a headset he can’t easily hold his phone up to speak either.
How the world went from no COVID vaccines to two in under a year
The next stage involves testing the vaccine on animals. By November, just four months after beginning phase III trials, the company demonstrated its vaccine to be 94 percent effective in preventing COVID infection.
Our favorite games of 2020
The Engadget staff talks about their favorite games of 2020, both new and old.
In 2020, Apple’s best wasn’t its Pro devices
The coronavirus most definitely did not stop Apple from releasing a slew of new hardware in 2020. Putting aside the outlier AirPods Max, there was a common trend across all this new hardware: Apple is blurring the lines between its so-called “Pro” devices and its less expensive, mainstream-focused products like the MacBook Air, iPad Air and iPhone 12 than ever before. Take the iPhone, for example.
Sonos is fighting a war to stay relevant
Sonos said this was just a small portion of Google’s overall infractions, noting that both Amazon and Google likely violated about 100 patents each. Amazon and Google’s most popular smart speakers have been the $50 Echo Dot and Nest Mini, respectively.
It was a massive year for electric bikes and scooters
People were buying electric bikes and scooters long before the pandemic.
SpaceX and its kick-ass, phenomenal, totally awesome 2020
2020 has been very good to SpaceX with the aerospace transportation firm surpassing a number of milestones, achieving virtually every goal it set out for itself during the year.
How COVID-19 forced social media to reckon with misinformation
The coronavirus pandemic, and the dangerous misinformation that came with it. forced social media platform to take steps they once tried to avoid.
Tech’s biggest losers in 2020
But 2020 was the year everything just kept getting worse. And it’s not entirely Qualcomm’s fault. Plus, the service’s user interface is a nightmare. It's the first dual-screen device that's so thin and beautiful.
Tech’s biggest winners in 2020
And then there’s the Switch. It’s uncanny. Pretty much every video-calling service provider saw similar activity, whether it’s Google’s Meet, Microsoft’s Teams or Cisco’s WebEx.
